Sunday, February 27, 2011

My Drug

Nope. I'm not on Valuim.  I'm just using the picture.  Seriously kinda a cool looking pill.  But I am going to create a new drug.

This drug is called " Sonotgonnahappen"  is going to make you have a better day.  It is a cure-all for what ails you.  You no longer have to worry about waking up on the wrong side of the bed.  You no longer have to worry about anything.  Take this pill and your worries will melt away.  Life will be perfect.

Now you have to imagine that there is a man who speaks very fast doing the next part of my advertisement:
Side effects often include, but are not limited to headaches, nausea, cramping of all muscles, and frequent urination.  Tell your doctor if you have ever had a broken bone, cold, or know someone who has had a cold.  Failure to take the pill correctly could result in stroke, hernias, and certain death.  Dry mouth, constipation, fatigue or dizziness could be signs of rare, but serious life-threatening complications.  Do not take if you've ever been to Florida, New Jersey or any state beginning with the letter "M".  


Seriously though.  Do you ever LISTEN to the drug commercials they advertise?  They are ridiculous!  Just being dumb.  Enjoy your day!

**I am not endorsing any drug on the post.  I do not endorse using  medication of any kind or using prescription drugs outside of a doctor's orders.  Or better yet, find a natural/herbal remedy  ;O)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

You Don't Know What You've Got...

...till it's gone.

Like our hot water.  Since Wednesday.

Wednesday I was trying to give Rosebud a bath when I noticed that the hot water was a little slow in coming.  As in not coming.

And since then #1 has been on the phone with the company (the warranty that should still be in place was voided when the home switched owners.  Convenient.)

And since then I've been taking cold showers or lukewarm baths (think boiling water on the stove).  And Rosebud takes warmish baths.  And the boys went to #1's workout place today to take a shower with him there.  Cause as long as he's working out everyday he gets a hot shower.  That might convince me to start working out.  Or not.

So.  You really don't appreciate what you have.  Until it is gone.

If you didn't "click" on my last post, I'm giving you another chance.  Right here.  Seriously check out this post.  It is the story of someone who has been deeply affected by the issue of abortion.

Because when women have abortions, they will never truly know what they had.  And it will be gone.  Forever.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Click

I don't have time to post tonight.  Life is crazy right now.  However, I read something today that I think you should too.  Click.  

http://theblessingsofmoderndomestication.blogspot.com/2011/02/because-i-care.html

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Look Alikes

This past weekend the kids and I headed north for another CILT weekend.  I had a day of lecturing on Saturday while they got to play at Grandmommy and Pop Pop's house.  I was SO THANKFUL they came and got us and then drove us back home as there was a huge accident that caused quite the backup on the way there and then very bad driving conditions on the way home due to snow and ice.  

While at their house I went through some of my old pictures from when I was a year old.  Many people say that Rosebud looks very much like me, and once in awhile I catch a glimpse of her that reminds me of photos I've seen of myself as a baby.  
 It is weird to look at this picture and think "that's me!".  I think "look at her, her hair and Rosebud's grow the same way and have to be swept to the side".
 This is my Grandma Gingell.  She is my dad's mom.  She passed away shortly after #1 and I started dating, I've always been so happy she got to meet him.  She loved my (9) cousins and I so much.  She would have loved to see her soon to be 17 great-grandchildren. (she did get to see several of them)
 This is my mom and I.  She'll kill me for posting this picture, because she never likes pictures of herself.  But I love this picture of me with her.  You can tell I was a loved and well cared for baby.  And personally I think my mom looks great!
 You can sorta see my dad in the background of this one.  This is (one of) my first birthday party.  I am enjoying cake  :o)  This picture looks JUST like Rosebud when she is eating.
 Again, this one is so much like her.

I love this picture too.  My mom is holding me and my Grandma Powley (mom's mom) is behind me.  I was only 5 when my grandma died, and I don't remember very much about her.  My mom doesn't remember who made the yellow sweater for me, but I have it hanging in Rosebud's closet for this spring.  It is a little big on her right now.  

Anyway, it was fun to look through pictures.  So...do you think there is a family resemblence?
  Participating in Wednesday's Walk today.  

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Black and White Wednesday

 Love them.  So much.  


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

10 Months old and Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  We hosted a pre-school Valentine's Day party for some friends, but I failed to take any pictures.  Way too busy!  We had twelve kids here.  That includes Rosebud, who slept through most of it...but still!  
It was done on a shoestring budget-$9.78.  
We had a race between two teams using spoons to take conversation hearts from one bowl to another,  played "musical chairs" but instead of chairs had paper hearts on the floor that could be removed as the kids walked in a circle, and did a few rounds of "hot potato".
I read two Valentine's books that I checked out of the library, made a "love bug" craft, and had Jell-o hearts and pretzels for a snack.  Lots of fun, lots of friends.  
 Rosebud turned 10 months on Valentine's Day.
 She spends quite a bit of her time standing now.  She cruises the furniture/toys and will be walking before I'm ready, that's for sure!
 Daddy tried to get a nap with her, but she was having none of it.  She has things to do!  She is very busy and very chatty.
At 10 months, Rosebud weighs 16 lbs, 1oz and is 26 3/4 inches long.  She gained 6 oz and nearly an inch since last month.  I think she is also starting to look older in her face.  Hard to believe in 8 weeks we'll be having a first birthday party!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Naples

I have beach pictures to post, but I also had lots of pictures of the afternoon/evening we spent in Naples.  There were too many to have them be one post.  There's too many period.  But I really did weed lots out, and I am bad at making decisions on what to keep and what to toss.  
I loved this art thing.  I know, that is very technical.  But it was very cool.

 I don't know how old the buildings there are, but the architecture was awesome. 
 We did lots of window shopping and some browsing.  I couldn't even afford to think about buying anything.  

 There was some kind of street art contest that had been going on the day before.  They were done in chalk, but had something over them that kept them from being smeared.  I took pictures of some of my favorites.  

 This one was awesome.  A picture doesn't do it justice.
 The restaurants along the street were exquisite.  I stopped long enough to take a picture of a place setting out on a patio.  
 GASP!!!!!!  And breathe.  Rosebud likes to spend as much time as we allow her right now viewing her world upside down.  Aunt Danielle not only has her in the sling, but also has both of her hands on her.  Rosebud throws herself backwards all the time and we have to be very vigilant while holding her.  
 You may or may not see this again for a "Before and After" or "Black and White Wednesday" post.  Sorry.
 So many beautiful details. 
Just soak up the rays and the lush green look.  Spring is coming, I promise.  
 This baby loved her Uncle Nathan.  She was all smiles for him all the time.

 More sunny beach pics to come soon.  Meanwhile bundle up and sip some cocoa.  I know I am!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Outtakes

I've been wanting to get a new picture of the three kids for a header for awhile now.  The tub one didn't make the cut.  With good reason!  While I"m not 100% sold on this one, it is the best I got.  With my very wrinkled bedsheet and very wiggly subjects.  Here's the outtakes.
 One
 Two
Three

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Losing My Testimony While Buying A Testament

I chose yesterday to be the day that I bought a new Bible.  Why I thought that would be a good idea at that particular date remains a mystery to me.  

When I was 15, my parents bought me a NIV Teen study Bible, and it has been my "main" Bible ever since.  I was given a small Bible when I graduated from college as I walked across the platform...but it isn't the same.  I do often take it to church and #1 calls it my "diaper bag Bible", mainly out of convenience.  But my "main" Bible has so many markings and side notes and underlined verses and comments that I really like to use it more.  

My women's Bible study at church is doing Beth Moore's Breaking Free.  It is killing me (which of course it isn't, but that is an inside joke if you've ever done the study).  This past week one issue we were dealing with pride.  Kings in Israel's history that made poor decisions because of  pride.  We as women are often in  bondage due to pride.  I know I am!  

Anyway, one of the things she wrote about was having to break in a new Bible.  That particular thing wasn't a pride issue for her or anything (it was just part of a story she was telling), but it started eating at me, because for me it is.  I kind of like having my "main" Bible with all its markings and notes and such.  It lookes, well, used.  And I certainly don't use it enough by any means.  But when I have my "main" Bible by my side, no one else would guess I don't read it everyday or as often as I should.  

So the Lord used that to speak to me.  And Little Monkey Man standing on my "main" Bible and ripping out a few more pages didn't hurt either.  So I swallowed my pride and decided it really was high time to be purchasing a new Bible.  Even if it does look crisp and new and people might think I don't read it.  Which I honestly don't often enough.

By the time all of the Draycare kids left, I had two hours until church started. I also had to go to the post office to mail a piece of a toy that had been recalled (which supposedly they will be replacing for free...good for us as it broke ages ago and I had just not thrown it away yet) and to Aldi to buy more jell-o for Snug's Valentine's Party today.  I seriously thought I had time to run three errands before church.  

The post office went as planned, complete with long lines, Little Monkey Man knocking down things off the wall as he jumped around, Rosebud screaming because she was in her carrier (Is it spring yet?  I need to use my slings.) and Snug informing everyone who would listen about how the post office had re-arranged its boxes/gift wrapping stations since he had been there at Christmas.  

And then we set off for the Christian Bookstore.  To buy a Bible.  Easy, right?  Of COURSE it was. 

We walked in, everyone kept their hands to themselves, I found the perfect Bible as soon as I walked in the door, it was on sale for practically free, and we checked out and headed out the door within 10 minutes of arrival.  Or not.  

We walked in and Rosebud had finally called it quits with the lung exercises.  However, Snug started complaining as soon as we walked through the door that "this is the worst store ever".  (In his defense at our old church I bought all the Bibles for new babies who were born and had their names put on them...so we used to frequent this particular store at least three times a month.)  After telling him to zip it because that was totally not polite we continued back to the Bible section.  Which is next to the Jesus junk section.

The WHAT?  Did I say Jesus junk?  I mean small plastic toys that say "Jesus" and break as soon as you even look at them and entice small children to touch touch touch touch.  Sorry MckMama, but your "use one finger and you can touch whatever" trick has not caught on well with my kiddos. I gave it a good effort. I so wish it had worked for us.  But it hasn't.  So we have a "put your hands in your pockets and don't touch a single darn thing and NO YOU CAN"T USE YOUR ELBOWS TO KNOCK YOUR BROTHER OVER" approach.  

So while my boys are itching to play with small plastic yo-yos and bouncy balls and who knows what else, I am trying to quickly choose a Bible that will hopefully last me another fifteen years.  Seriously?  I took my three kids to do that?  Unfortunately, yes.  

And then LMM had to potty.  Loudly.  No, he didn't potty loudly, he announced it.  As he does most everything.  Loudly.  We found that the bathroom was in use, so we stood oh so quietly outside the door to wait our turn(s).  And we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And somewhere in all that waiting, Rosebud woke up and discovered that she was indeed still in her favorite car seat.  Begin lung exercise.  Eventually a store employee emerged from the restroom and we were able to use the facilities.  

Back to the Bibles.  I played with the idea of letting Rosebud out of her car seat to roam around, but decided to put up with the crying over re-shelving half the store and adding yet another bruise to her poor little forehead.  I sat both boys down where they could do the least amount of damage and began my search in frantic.  The Bible I wanted was on the very top shelf where I barely could reach it and once I got it down, decided it was way out of my price range.  It was a really nice study Bible with references and such.  

Then as LMM started kicking the side of a metal display (insert gong sound effects) and Snug started singing one of his his famous made up dirges (think songs about the Lord and Diego and his pretend mice that last at least 4 minutes and contain a maximum of 4 notes) I spotted the perfect Bible for me.  



I quickly compared it to the reference Bible that I was coveting (can you covet a Bible?) and discovered it was a much better price. It didn't have nearly the extras, but it does have more "useful extra stuff" than my "main" Bible has.  So we headed to the check-out. 

Then end.

Just kidding.  

While standing in line two things happened.  Do you want to know the good news or bad news first?  We'll go with the bad and get it over with. 

 LMM knocked over an ENTIRE Valentine's Day display.  ENTIRE.  I was mortified.  Really, how does one clean that up with three children in tow?  The clerk just stared at me.  And then the woman in line behind me said "Ma'am.  Don't worry about it.  I will clean it up for you." and she was very sincere and kind and non-judgmental about it.  And that is the good news.  And the other good news (slipped in two here) is that I also had a buy one get one half off anything in the store coupon.  So LMM got his OWN Bible that I had been thinking about getting for awhile.  (Daddy and Mommy sat him down and gave it to him by himself today.  He was thrilled.)  

I totally could have lost it with my kids in the Bible bookstore.  Isn't that awful?  I bit my tongue so many times and kept taking deep breaths.  Because, really, I should have never ever attempted that.  And because while their behavior was nothing short of awful, they are 4, 2 and nearly 10 months.  But I am truly glad God gave me the strength to NOT lose my testimony while buying a (new and old) testament.  Because when I lose my temper or get angry with them it isn't a great testimony to them or anyone else around.  And I need to remember that more often.  

Anyone want to go shopping with us Saturday?  No?  I thought not.  

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Creating Color

 These boys were really thankful for their dinner last night.  Snug was praying, and no, they don't know I snapped a quick picture as they thanked God for their food.  I felt a little guilty doing it actually, but they are SO CUTE when they pray.  I bet God thinks that too.  He loves them more than I do you know!

We've had day after day of snow, ice, rainy sleet, and  sub zero weather.  I like winter, I don't mind snow, and I know spring will come soon.  But things are just a little blah color wise in these parts.
 So because the boys had had a big lunch (when we do our main meal of the day) I decided to let them have a "snacky" supper.  I already had jell-o ready for dessert (pieces left from the jigglers I'm making for Snug's Valentine party at school tomorrow) and oranges and peas ready for their dinner...and while I was deciding what else to serve, I guess I was inspired by the colors and poked around our fridge for yellow, blue, and purple.
Little Monkey Man saw me take the picture of Snug's plate for a close up and he also wanted his dinner photographed.  More specifically he said  "pic.  me.  pate.  too.  pic.  uh-huh" (say that while smiling and nodding your head.)

Will post beach pics soon.  Just being lazy.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Almost Done...

I'm almost done posting about our trip to Florida.  I want to put up a few of our day in Naples, and the Naples Beach.  Maybe when the kids go to bed tonight...

Friday, February 4, 2011

ECHO

 I'd like to introduce you to ECHO  (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization).  Or reintroduce you if you read this post last January.  You won't be seeing sleeping beauty in this post.  Cause...well...she slept through it.

See the sign above? My dad installed it this winter.  He and my mom volunteer at ECHO during the winter months.  My dad does maintenance, and my mom gardening.  But my sister-in-law works there full-time.  
 My SIL gave the guided tour.  Because as you see in the picture before this one, Guided Tours Only.  And they are not normally on golf carts.  We were lucky.  Or we had a sleeping baby.  Whichever.
 This place is so amazing.  They do so many things to improve the lives of people around the world.  This building is "appropriate technology".  They work with everyday things found in/available in third world countries.  Think trash.
 There is a section dedicated to ways to pump and purify water.

 And there are animals.  Truthfully they are my favorite part.  I love them.  But I have to remember that here at ECHO animals are food, not friends.
Look!  It's a Sabu!  Yes Veggie Tale friends, this is a real sabu.  
 Ok...so I may have made friends with the food.  This goat is housed in a building that stands about 1 foot above the ground.  The manure falls underneath and then is used in the gardens.  The same is true with the bunnies.  Also with the ducks and chickens that are not out roaming in certain gardens eating insects that could harm the plants.

 I love this and plan on implementing it in our backyard this summer.  This is a "tippy tap".  Appropriate technology!  The Wisk container has a small hole in the lid, and is filled with water.  There is a small bottle of soap also hanging from it.  (Some tippy taps have bar soap hanging)  Attached to the neck of the bottle is a string with a stick on the bottom.  You step on the stick to get the water to come out.  It is a hand-washing station!  Proper hand washing is so important to keep disease down.  I will have to "borrow" a detergent bottle as we use Charlie's Soap that doesn't come in bottles.
These are tiny Moringa trees.  We love Moringa.  Rosebud eats Moringa yogurt and Moringa Oatmeal.  I drink Moringa tea for better breastmilk for her.  What is Moringa?  I had a post on it here.  
 A really cool thing about ECHO is that they simulate different growing conditions from around the world.  This is a rooftop garden.  Live in a shack have have zero yard?  Grow your veggies in a tire, old bucket, milk jug, old carpeting (seriously...no soil, just carpet and rocks!), or whatever garbage you have.  They have seeds that work for any condition!
 This area is "mountain".
 And a rice patty.  Not pictured are tons of other gardens.  But this post is long enough.
 There is also a gift shop that people can buy products.
 It has a great selection of books on gardening.  There is kid's book about the Moringa plant that I wanted to buy, but we were there after hours.  If you know someone who is living overseas ministering to impoverished people, or you yourself are planning on doing long/short term missions, I urge you to check out ECHO.
 Because as beautiful and peaceful as the gardens and property of ECHO are, they are there to educate people on how to fight world hunger.  And they are mission minded.  You can also support them financially and through prayer.  Search them on Facebook and you can "Like" them and find out more also!